- The present simple is used to refer to habitual actions or routine actions: Many people work from 8.00a.am. to 3.00p.m. My father leaves home at 7.30a.m.
- The present simple is also used to refer to facts that are always true: Rivers flow to the sea. Water boils at 100ºC.
- Adverbs of frequency and time expresions used with present simple verbs: · always, hardly ever, never, occasionally, often, rarely, sometimes, usually, ... · everyday / week / year, etc., every so often, most weekends, twice a week, ...
The shops in our neighborhood always close at 8.30p.m. I never get up before 7.00a.m. He wears jeans everyday.
· The present continuous is used to refer to situations that are happening right now or at present. Tom is cooking lunch at the moment. Could you call him back later, please? I'm reading Harry Potter this week.
· Time expressions used with present continuous verbs: at present, at the moment, currently, now, this week, today, ...
· Stative verbs are verbs that are not normally used in the continuous form:
We use it when we want to refer to an action or event which is finished and:
- took place at a specific time and place in the past: Tom went to Italy in 2010.
- took place over a specific period in the past: They lived in France between 2005 and 2010.
- was habitual during a specific period in the past. When Jane lived in Rome, she had lunch at about 12.30pm
We use it to indicate:
- a continuous event in the past (which may or may not be unfinished): Jane was working with his father when I first met her.
- a temporary event in the past which was in progress before another event took place: I'll always remember what I was doing when the thunderstorm hit our house.
- an event which started before another event in the past and continued: When Sam turned up, most of the other guests were already leaving the party.
- simultaneous, continuous actions inthe past: While I was making the dinner, my husband was laying the table.
- repeated actions occurring over a period of time in the past: I was always arguing with my husband before I got the divorce.
We use it when we want to talk about:
- an event that started in the past, continues in the present and may continue into the future: I have been married for fifteen years.
- a recent event in the past that has relevance to the present:
- an event that happened in the past without saying when it happened, because we don't consider this is important: Have you seen Tom? I have been to Italy twice.
- an event that happened in the past but in unfinished time, with expressions like today, this month, this year, etc. I didn't see Jane last month, but I have been out with her five times this month.
We use it:
- to emphasize the continuity and durantion of the event: I have been living in London since I arrived in 2004.
- to indicate that a continuous activity (finished or unfinished) in the recent past is responsible for a present situation: He is not crying. He has been peeling onions.
Note: There are some verbs that can be in the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous tense with no change of meaning, although the continuous form is often preferred: live, wait, drive, smoke, work, stay, study, rain.
We use it to indicate a past event or situation which occurred before another past event or situation. I had been awake for a while before the alarm rang. My father had already left when I arrived home.
NOTE: Sometimes, a time conjunction (before, when, ...) replaces the past perfect to show which of the two past events occured first. And in this case, both events can be in the past simple tense: Tom phoned her before she left.
· describe major life events in more detail
· report facts you are not a hundred per cent sure of
· discuss gossip and news about people (3)
· complain about annoying habits
· Catching up with News and Gossip
· Key Life Events around the World
· Showing Uncertainty (5)
We use it when we want to emphasize the continuity and duration of an event: Jane had been trying to find a job for months before she was offered her present one.
2.6. Participle clauses
They contain a present participle (e.g. driving), a past participle (e.g. driven) or a perfect participle (e.g. having driven).
We use it:
- to indicate two events happening at the same time. It can replace a time clause: Walking down the Fifth Avenue on Monday, I saw Jane.
It replaces: As / When / While I was walking ...
- to indicate a reason, and it can replace a reason clause: Not understanding my teacher's questions, I was unable to give her an answer.
It replaces: Because / Since I didn't understand ... Having spent my savings on the house, I couldn't afford our holidays.
It replaces: Because / Since I had spent ...
NOTE: The subject of the participle must also be the subject of the other verb. It is not possible to say "Making the dinner, someone knocked on the door."
It's used to talk about:
- intentions, plans or resolutions: I'm going to get a new job after holidays. What are you going to do when you leave university?
- predictions based on present evidence or knowledge: My nose is tickling. I'm going to sneeze. My brother is going to have a baby.
The will future is used to talk about:
- future facts: The sun will rise at 6.00 tomorrow morning.
- predictions or expectations: I expect Tom and Jane will be late again.
- instant decisions about the immediate future: The phone's ringing. I will answer it.
- offers: I will take you to the airport if you like.
- stong intentions: When my father retires, my parents will definitely travel abroad for a few months.
The present continuous is used to refer to future actions or events which have already been arranged. We are spending the summer with our friends in Italy.
The future continuous is used to talk about:
- events or actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. I will be travelling to Italy this time tomorrow.
- predicted or expected trends. People will be living in the moon in the twenty-second century.
The future perfect simple is used to talk about:
- actions or events that will already be completed by a particular time in the future: I will have left university and started to work by the year 2020.
Note: Shall is sometimes used instead of will after I and we. We shall have forgotten about the accident in a few days.
3.6. The future perfect continuous
(will + have + been + -ing)
The future perfect continuous is used to talk about:
- the continuous nature of actions and events in the future: We will have been living here for two years on Monday.
3.7. Present simple
It's used to talk about scheduled, timetabled or fixed events: The class starts at 5.00pm tomorrow morning.
3.8. be (just) about to + infinitive
It's used to talk about actions or events which we expect to happen in the immediate future: We would better hurry - the plain is just about to leave.
3.9. be on the point of + -ing
It also refers to the immediate future: I'm on the point of going out. Could you come back later, please?
3.10. be likely / unlikely to + infinitive
It's used to refer to probable or improbable actions or events: We are likely / unlikely to see Tom tomorrow.
3.11. be bound to + infinitive
It's used to refer to actions or events which you think are certain to happen: The police are bound to discover who broke in eventually.
Table of Contents
1. THE PRESENT
1.1. Present Simple
Básico 1:
Básico 2:
- The present simple is used to refer to habitual actions or routine actions:
Many people work from 8.00a.am. to 3.00p.m.
My father leaves home at 7.30a.m.
- The present simple is also used to refer to facts that are always true:
Rivers flow to the sea.
Water boils at 100ºC.
- Adverbs of frequency and time expresions used with present simple verbs:
· always, hardly ever, never, occasionally, often, rarely, sometimes, usually, ...
· everyday / week / year, etc., every so often, most weekends, twice a week, ...
The shops in our neighborhood always close at 8.30p.m.
I never get up before 7.00a.m.
He wears jeans everyday.
1.2. Present Continuous
Básico 1:
Básico 2:
Intermedio 1:
· The present continuous is used to refer to situations that are happening right now or at present.
Tom is cooking lunch at the moment. Could you call him back later, please?
I'm reading Harry Potter this week.
· Time expressions used with present continuous verbs:
at present, at the moment, currently, now, this week, today, ...
· Stative verbs are verbs that are not normally used in the continuous form:
Many of these stative verbs can also be used to refer to actions (and can be used in the continuous form):
Intermedio 2:
· You can use always with present continuous verbs to mean "again and again" or "too frequently".
I'm always losing my keys.
2. THE PAST
2.1. Past simple
Básico 1
Básico 2
We use it when we want to refer to an action or event which is finished and:
- took place at a specific time and place in the past:
Tom went to Italy in 2010.
- took place over a specific period in the past:
They lived in France between 2005 and 2010.
- was habitual during a specific period in the past.
When Jane lived in Rome, she had lunch at about 12.30pm
2.2. Past continuous
Básico 2:
We use it to indicate:
- a continuous event in the past (which may or may not be unfinished):
Jane was working with his father when I first met her.
- a temporary event in the past which was in progress before another event took place:
I'll always remember what I was doing when the thunderstorm hit our house.
- an event which started before another event in the past and continued:
When Sam turned up, most of the other guests were already leaving the party.
- simultaneous, continuous actions inthe past:
While I was making the dinner, my husband was laying the table.
- repeated actions occurring over a period of time in the past:
I was always arguing with my husband before I got the divorce.
2.3. Present perfect simple
Básico 2:
Intermedio 1:
Intermedio 2:
We use it when we want to talk about:
- an event that started in the past, continues in the present and may continue into the future:
I have been married for fifteen years.
- a recent event in the past that has relevance to the present:
- an event that happened in the past without saying when it happened, because we don't consider this is important:
Have you seen Tom?
I have been to Italy twice.
- an event that happened in the past but in unfinished time, with expressions like today, this month, this year, etc.
I didn't see Jane last month, but I have been out with her five times this month.
2.4. Present perfect continuous
Intermedio 2:
Avanzado 1:
We use it:
- to emphasize the continuity and durantion of the event:
I have been living in London since I arrived in 2004.
- to indicate that a continuous activity (finished or unfinished) in the recent past is responsible for a present situation:
He is not crying. He has been peeling onions.
Note: There are some verbs that can be in the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous tense with no change of meaning, although the continuous form is often preferred:
live, wait, drive, smoke, work, stay, study, rain.
2.5. Past perfect simple
Intermedio 2:
We use it to indicate a past event or situation which occurred before another past event or situation.
I had been awake for a while before the alarm rang.
My father had already left when I arrived home.
NOTE: Sometimes, a time conjunction (before, when, ...) replaces the past perfect to show which of the two past events occured first. And in this case, both events can be in the past simple tense:
Tom phoned her before she left.
2.5. Past perfect continuous
Avanzado 2:
· report facts you are not a hundred per cent sure of
· discuss gossip and news about people (3)
· complain about annoying habits
· be always -ing / wish and would
· Birth, Marriage and Death
· Key Life Events around the World
We use it when we want to emphasize the continuity and duration of an event:
Jane had been trying to find a job for months before she was offered her present one.
2.6. Participle clauses
They contain a present participle (e.g. driving), a past participle (e.g. driven) or a perfect participle (e.g. having driven).
We use it:
- to indicate two events happening at the same time. It can replace a time clause:
Walking down the Fifth Avenue on Monday, I saw Jane.
It replaces: As / When / While I was walking ...
- to indicate a reason, and it can replace a reason clause:
Not understanding my teacher's questions, I was unable to give her an answer.
It replaces: Because / Since I didn't understand ...
Having spent my savings on the house, I couldn't afford our holidays.
It replaces: Because / Since I had spent ...
NOTE: The subject of the participle must also be the subject of the other verb. It is not possible to say "Making the dinner, someone knocked on the door."
3. THE FUTURE
3.1. Be going to
Básico 1:
9 & 10
Básico 2:
It's used to talk about:
- intentions, plans or resolutions:
I'm going to get a new job after holidays.
What are you going to do when you leave university?
- predictions based on present evidence or knowledge:
My nose is tickling. I'm going to sneeze.
My brother is going to have a baby.
3.2. Will
Básico 2:
Intermedio 2:
The will future is used to talk about:
- future facts: The sun will rise at 6.00 tomorrow morning.
- predictions or expectations: I expect Tom and Jane will be late again.
- instant decisions about the immediate future: The phone's ringing. I will answer it.
- offers: I will take you to the airport if you like.
- stong intentions: When my father retires, my parents will definitely travel abroad for a few months.
3.3. Present Continuous with a future intention
Básico 2:
Intermedio 1:
The present continuous is used to refer to future actions or events which have already been arranged.
We are spending the summer with our friends in Italy.
3.4. Future continuous
(will + be + -ing)Avanzado 2:
· be more polite in business contexts
· pronounce email addresses and websites
· talk about markets, companies and products more fluently
· Expressing necessity and ability
· Building up a Business
· Business Collocations
· The Green Tourism Guru
· Dream and Achieve
The future continuous is used to talk about:
- events or actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.
I will be travelling to Italy this time tomorrow.
- predicted or expected trends.
People will be living in the moon in the twenty-second century.
3.5. The future perfect simple
(will + have + past participle)Avanzado 2:
· suggest different times / places to meet
· deal with awkward social situations
· start and end different kinds of converstions
· Question tags
· Talking about parties
· Starting Converstions
The future perfect simple is used to talk about:
- actions or events that will already be completed by a particular time in the future:
I will have left university and started to work by the year 2020.
Note: Shall is sometimes used instead of will after I and we.
We shall have forgotten about the accident in a few days.
3.6. The future perfect continuous
(will + have + been + -ing)The future perfect continuous is used to talk about:
- the continuous nature of actions and events in the future:
We will have been living here for two years on Monday.
3.7. Present simple
It's used to talk about scheduled, timetabled or fixed events:
The class starts at 5.00pm tomorrow morning.
3.8. be (just) about to + infinitive
It's used to talk about actions or events which we expect to happen in the immediate future:
We would better hurry - the plain is just about to leave.
3.9. be on the point of + -ing
It also refers to the immediate future:
I'm on the point of going out. Could you come back later, please?
3.10. be likely / unlikely to + infinitive
It's used to refer to probable or improbable actions or events:
We are likely / unlikely to see Tom tomorrow.
3.11. be bound to + infinitive
It's used to refer to actions or events which you think are certain to happen:
The police are bound to discover who broke in eventually.
4. GERUNDS and INFINITIVES
Básico 2:
Intermedio 1:
Intermedio 2:
5. THE PASSIVE
Básico 2:
Intermedio 1:
Intermedio 2:
Describing buildings
Avanzado 2:
· apologise and explain problems in formal settings
· use descriptive literary language
· express regrets
· wish
· Metaphor
· The Magic Moneybag (2)
· A Debate about the Lottery
6. REPORTED SPEECH
Intermedio 1:
Intermedio 2:
Avanzado 2:
· explain how to cook things
· give approximate meanings
· link ideas more clearly
· reporting verbs
· prefixes
· food in the news
· food-related news stories
.